Sickened by out of hours healthcare

Brian Phillips, from Deansway in Bromsgrove, has suffered from diabetes for 33 years. He was doubled up with crippling stomach pains when he called the service late one evening last October. Now he claims the system is failing patients.

Mr Phillips said the advice he was given was flippant and did nothing to ease the anxiety or pain which prevented him from sleeping.

He said he sought advice because he was worried about taking painkillers while already having to take a daily cocktail of drugs to control his long-term illness.

Numerous in-depth investigations and a week's spell in hospital have since failed to pinpoint the problem and he is awaiting to be admitted again for more tests.

The 58-year-old, who is single, says he has many criticisms of the Out of Hours service, which is designed to help patients when GP's surgeries are closed.

Mr Phillips said he has had to wait up to ten minutes for calls to be answered.

"Then it is often by a receptionist who hands you on to a nurse, who in turn has to consult a doctor," he said.

"I once waited ninety minutes for a doctor to return my call, which is far too long if you are in need of emergency help," he said.

Mr Phillips believes his is not an isolated case.

He is now awaiting the outcome of an investigation into his case by bosses at the Redditch and Bromsgrove Primary Care Trust.

Meanwhile, Bromsgrove's MP Julie Kirkbride has taken up the case. She said: "I take seriously Mr Phillips' concern that calls are not being answered quickly and obstacles are put in the way of callers speaking directly to a doctor for expert medical advice. I will be taking the matter up with the local primary care trust."

Mr Phillips has since received a letter from Dr Benedict McCaffrey, the service's clinical director.

In it he says he is happy the advice given to Mr Phillips was "reasonable" and is willing to meet him to discuss his concerns.